Exodus 1:1-22 AMPC

[1] These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, [3] Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, [4] Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. [5] All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. [6] Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. [7] But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them. [8] Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. [9] He said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us [and they outnumber us both in people and in strength]. [10] Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land. [11] So they set over [the Israelites] taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with [increased] burdens. And [the Israelites] built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that [the Egyptians] were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites. [13] And the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery. [14] They made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness and severity. [15] Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiprah and the other Puah, [16] When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live. [17] But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live. [18] So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this thing and allowed the male children to live? [19] The midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and quickly delivered; their babies are born before the midwife comes to them. [20] So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong. [21] And because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households [of their own]. [22] Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son born [to the Hebrews] you shall cast into the river [Nile], but every daughter you shall allow to live.